Long-awaited Swedish victory – 2-1 against Mexico

After five international matches without a win, after a missed World Cup final and the fiasco in the Nations League, the long-awaited success came.

It didn’t matter in Girona, but 2-1 means a lot.

— First of all, it’s nice that we’re winning again, it’s been a while. It was the best, good for self-confidence. Then it’s nice that I score, says Mattias Svanberg, who scored the winning goal and played until Sweden’s first, to C More.

When the national team loosens its belt and pulls off the braces, it can play offensive, effective football.

“We have better patience today, everyone accepts the game plan that we are a little lower, but we make it difficult for them and convert and score on the chances,” says Svanberg.

But it took time to get there towards Mexico.

The crowd, where the sympathies were estimated to be 99–1 in Mexico’s favor, made the wave already after 14 minutes. Why is unclear. It was hardly out of excitement at what initially unfolded on Estadi Montelivi’s green-to-turf golf course.

The Mexicans rolled around, a passive, position-oriented Sweden barely got to borrow the ball.

Sad, but called necessary. Defensive play, the year’s most obvious problem, was prioritized. It would be “set” as the national team captain Janne Andersson pointed out.

Svanberg’s great location

But backing home with all three teams, almost so that the defense ended up in Kristoffer Nordfeldt’s lap, also gave Mexico the command and the upper hand.

And then, out of nowhere, came the golden mode. Jesper Karlström won a duel, Anthony Elanga wandered in from the edge, dribbled away defenders and served Mattias Svanberg free shooting range.

The Wolfsburg professional tried to caress the ball near the post but the right-footed finish went just wide.

Emil Holm, the debutant, showed that he wants to join and compete for the right back spot. The 22-year-old from Spezia played his way forward with Marcus Rohdén, but was brought down by Jesus Gallardo just outside the penalty area line.

Ludwig Augustinsson hit the free kick into the Mexican wall – but it was a decent chance after a fresh initiative by Holm.

It was the start of a strong Swedish period, where mainly Viktor Gyökeres and Elanga put the Mexican defense in difficulties. Gyökeres showed he has confidence after his nine goals this autumn for Coventry.

Häcken’s celebrated midfielder Samuel Gustafson had a tough debut. His main qualities come to the fore when he has the ball.

He rarely had that.

Uriel Antuna had the best scoring chance of the match so far shortly before half-time, but his long-range shot hit the top of the crossbar.

Immediately in the second half, Luis Chavez hit the post.

What a return for Rohdén

In the midst of the Mexican onslaught, the most improbable Swedish lead goal came from an equally improbable scorer – Serie B player Marcus Rohdén, who had not been in a national team squad for four years.

Gustafson played out to Svanberg, whose pass slipped past Gyökeres. At the far post, Rohdén came gliding and bumped in 1–0. Talk about a successful return to the national team.

Five minutes later: The Swedish right defense with Isak Hien and Holm disappeared completely.

Alexis Vega got free and scored the equaliser.

Robin Quaison, Mikael Ishak and Emil Forsberg came on after 69 minutes. Out went Elanga, Gyökeres and Karlström.

Sweden finished strongly, carried the game and got to the position that produced the winning goal in the 84th minute.

Forsberg’s corner went all the way to Svanberg, who elegantly scored his second national team goal.

— I felt I should score in the situation in the first half. So I took it easy at the end, nice to see it go in, says Svanberg.

The national team will stay in Girona over Thursday, travel to Malmö on Friday and on Saturday night the national team year will end with the international match against Algeria at the Eleda stadium.